NFL Commissioner says Bad Bunny’s halftime show will ‘unite’ the country

We’re days away from Super Bowl LX, when the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots will face off at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

It’s also when superstar Bad Bunny will hit the halftime stage for his highly anticipated performance, which has been a point of contention since he was picked.

During the Super Bowl’s media night on Monday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell weighed in on the decision to have the “Tití Me Preguntó” singer perform.

“(He’s) one of the great artists in the world, and that’s one of the reasons to be chosen,” Goodell explained. “But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on, and that this was this platform is to use to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talent.”

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is set to make history as the first solo Latino artist to headline the halftime show. He does have some experience under his belt. In 2020, he performed alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira during their halftime performance at Super Bowl LIV in Miami, Florida.

The 31-year-old King of Latin Trap will also make history as the first artist to headline the show while singing primarily in Spanish.

Bad Bunny has been openly critical of President Donald Trump and his administration, and there has been conservative backlash to his selection. During the 2026 Grammys, he declared “ICE out” before winning the award for album of the year and has said he will not hold concerts in the contiguous U.S. for fear they could be targeted by immigration enforcement.

Conservative organization Turning Point USA is offering an alternative halftime show with Kid Rock as the headliner.

“The All-American Halftime Show” will celebrate “American faith, family, and freedom,” the organization, founded by the late activist Charlie Kirk, said.

In addition to Kid Rock, the show will feature performances by Country Music Award winner Brantley Gilbert and country singer Lee Brice, as well as new country artist Gabby Barrett.

Super Bowl LX takes place on Feb. 8 on NBC at 3:30 p.m. PST.